Phillies' Ruiz: I feel so bad for this

With a now-healthy right shoulder, Stutes ready to compete for a spot in the bullpen.

February 13, 2013|By Mandy Housenick, Of The Morning Call

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Carlos Ruiz sat at the picnic table just outside the clubhouse at Bright House Field with his head pointing to the ground for a few seconds even after a member of the Phillies' public relations staff had ended the interview he was giving.

The Phillies catcher had reason to be disappointed in himself.

Speaking publicly for the first time since being handed a 25-game suspension for testing positive for Adderall, an amphetamine that is on Major League Baseball's banned substance list, the 2012 all-star apologized to his family, his teammates and his fans.

"I feel so bad for this," he said. "I'm trying to put everything behind me and do my best this year and bring a championship back to Philadelphia."

MLB does not suspend a player for one failed test for a stimulant, as it does for performance enhancing drugs. However, the policy does require six unannounced follow-up tests over the 12-month period after the first test, in addition to the standard random tests players receive.

If Ruiz tests positive again for a stimulant, he will receive an 80-game suspension.

Players can petition MLB for a Therapeutic Use Exemption, which according to the commissioner's office, a record-setting 116 players were granted in 2012.

Ruiz can choose to file for a TUE, but it won't be easy. He would have to persuade a three-person panel to rule on an exemption if the doctor requesting the TUE is not certified by MLB or if there is a dispute.

Ruiz, 34, would not say whether he would file for receive a TUE or whether he had ever been diagnosed with ADHD, which adderall is often prescribed to treat.

"That's something that [is] between my doctor and me," he said. "Major League Baseball has rules, and when [you] make a mistake, you're going to pay."

With Ruiz out of the picture for the first 25 games — he can play in Grapefruit League games but isn't eligible for a big league game until the Phillies travel to New York on April 28 — Erik Kratz will likely be the team's Opening Day catcher and get the bulk of the innings behind the plate.

Getting that much time on the field is something Kratz has been waiting for — he has started only 47 games in his career — but he didn't want it to come this way.

"Anytime you lose a teammate for an extended period of time — injury, suspension — it's disappointing because you want all 25 of the best guys that we can have out there," Kratz said. "He had tremendous play on the field, but his leadership in the clubhouse is huge, too. It's like any other teammate that you lose, it sucks."

Ruiz won over the hearts of Phillies fans everywhere in recent years and put together the best offensive campaign of his career last season. With Ryan Howard and Chase Utley out almost the whole first half of the year, Ruiz moved from the bottom of the lineup into the cleanup spot until early July. He wound up setting career highs in doubles (32), home runs (16) , RBIs (68) and batting average (.325).

Stutets ready to go

The road to recovery has already been a long one for Michael Stutes, and it won't get any easier this spring.

Although he said he feels like he has a new right shoulder after doctors cleaned it out during his June 26 surgery, his next task — finding a spot on the 25-man roster —is challenging.

"I would have to say that," he said. "I missed almost all of last year."

The right-handed reliever had a setback last spring training and was hampered by shoulder soreness. But he was on the Opening Day roster and made his first appearance April 7.

That soreness started to creep back, though. After making only six appearances in April, Stutes went on the disabled list. When rest and rehab didn't help, he had shoulder surgery.

"That's something you wouldn't wish on anyone," Stutes said of missing most of the season. "It's pretty frustrating sitting down here the whole summer and watching the games every night on TV."

Nearly eight months later, though, Stutes feels like a new man.

He'll have to pitch like a new man, too, if he wants a spot on the roster. As of now it appears there are just three open spots in the bullpen.

Stutes has shown in the past how dominant he can be. During a 31-game stretch from April 5 to July 8, 2011, he posted a 2.45 ERA, walked 15 and struck out 30. Opponents hit just .170 against him in those 291/3 innings pitched.

"I miss being out there and facing hitters," Stutes said. "I'm really looking forward to getting out there."

NOTES: General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the organization and reliever Juan Cruz "mutually parted ways" and Cruz will not report to camp in Clearwater. Cruz had signed a letter of agreement, not a contract, before the Phillies signed Chad Durbin. "After we discussed it with his agent, we all got together and talked about it and decided to part ways. We decided to do this out of respect for a guy who has been in the big leagues for nine years." Cruz is free to sign with any other team. … Ryan Howard will address the media after Thursday's workout.